Viagra lovers should go veggie says Chantelle Houghton

Not so long ago we reported on claims that celery is the new Viagra. Now an ex-Big Brother star – Chantelle Houghton – has given her support to the idea that vegetables can be an effective impotence treatment.

Chantelle poses in new adverts by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) with a disappointed look on her face, holding a limp hot dog. The text next to her reads: "Eating meat got you down? Fight impotence, go vegetarian!"

The campaign group wants to encourage people to eat less meat, by alerting them to the fact that eating too many steaks, lamb chops and meat pies can lead them to need Viagra. Chantelle said: "I hope my PETA ad turns clogged-up carnivores on to the wonders of veggie Viagra."

The star famously took part in Celebrity Big Brother despite not being a celebrity. She then went on to marry fellow contestant Samuel Preston. She has been vegetarian since an early age.

Impotence and red meat: the link

Scientists agree that, if you consume too much red meat, the arteries of your heart can become clogged, slowing down your blood flow. In turn, this can cause impotence and leave you needing Viagra.

Heart problems and impotence are strongly related and a recent study has shown that people with heart problems, who are also impotent, are twice as likely to die as those who are not impotent. It is a reminder that impotence can sometimes be a sign of deeper underlying health problems.

Cutting down on vices to reduce your impotence risk

Cutting out some red meat from your diet, if you are currently eating too much, is one way that you can reduce your chances of needing Viagra.

What other excesses can be curbed to lower your impotence risk? Limiting your alcohol intake can help, because excessive drinking can damage your heart and blood flow. Quitting smoking can help too, because nicotine narrows blood vessels into and out of the penis. It can also cause atherosclerosis, where the arteries harden. This can reduce blood flow to the penis.